Tag Archives: Elections

Scholars’ Circle – Analysis of Armenia-Azerbaijan Ceasefire Agreement -/- US Electoral College fault lines – November 8, 2020

A peace agreement brokered by Russia was signed this week by Azerbaijan and Armenia to end the fighting in the Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, region. What are the details of the agreement and why did both sides agree? [ dur: 33mins. ]

How much did the Electoral College matter in this election? Should it be reformed? Is it anti-democratic? And if should be reformed, what should be done? [ dur: 25mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – US 2020 Elections, views from outside the US – November 8, 2020

How does the US election look to people outside the US. Will its ability to navigate the process show observers abroad the strength of US democracy or will it show its weaknesses.

We explore the American election as viewed from Greece, Britain, Brazil and Canada. [ dur: 58mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Supreme Court and 2020 US Elections -/- Role of Class and Identity in US Elections – November 1, 2020

We speak about the Supreme Court and the Presidency. Also, how has Donald Trump reshaped the Federal Judiciary and the Supreme Court and how does that shape the election? [ dur: 29mins. ]

We discuss how the role of class and identity politics in the midst of American politics are shaping elections. [ dur: 28mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Journalist and Media role in US Elections -/- US Foreign Policy at stake in 2020 Presidential Election – October 25, 2020

We explore the media’s role in this election and the journalists’ experience of this campaign season. [ dur: 30mins. ]

Then, what are the key foreign policy issues on the ballot in the 2020 US Presidential Elections? How different are the visions of Biden and Trump of the American role in the world? [ dur: 27mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – US Presidential Elections 2020 and Voter Suppression -/- How much does foreign and economic policy change with change of presidency? – October 11 , 2020

Who gets to vote? What are the laws that help or hinder the vote? How are those changing and how might that effect the results of the 2020 election? And how are the misinformation and disinformation campaigns through the use of social media misleading the voters? [ dur: 27mins. ]

How much does the president truly matter for the direction of the United States and for the rest of the world. [ dur: 30mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – US Political System and the 2020 Presidential Election -/- Deep Sea Mining and ecological impact – Oct 4th , 2020

What are the parts of the US political system that will most affect the election outcome? [ dur: 32mins. ]

The search for minerals is leading some corporations to begin mining the ocean floor but scientists warn that this could devastate fragile ecosystems that will have repercussions that we still don’t understand. What is going on in the deep sea? What precautions should be taken to prevent devastating fragile ecosystems? [ dur: 26mins. ]

  • Craig Smith is Professor of Oceanography at the University of Hawai’i.
  • Verena Tunnicliffe is a marine biologist at the University of Victoria in Canada where she holds a Canada Research Chair in Deep Ocean Research.

They are co-authors of the study Deep Sea Misconceptions Cause Underestimation of Seabed-Mining Impacts.

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – The implications of Kamala Harris’ selection as vice president -/- Social media’s influence on political campaigns and communication. – Aug 16, 2020

What’s so important about the vice presidency and what are the implications of Kamala Harris, the first woman of color on a major party ticket? hosted by Doug Becker. [ dur: 24mins.]

How does social media influence political campaigns and communication in contemporary America? hosted by Doug Becker. [ dur: 32mins. ]

This program is produced by the following team members: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Children of the incarcerated parents -/- Canadian Election Examined – October 27 , 2019

First, what are the life chances of children of incarcerated parents? [ dur: 10mins. ]

Then, Canadians have spoken with their ballots. What does Canada’s election mean for climate change, for the future of the Arctic, for LGTBQ rights, for ethics, and for Canada’s role in the world? What does the election mean for Canada’s future? Contributing host Doug Becker explores. [ dur: 48mins. ]

This program is produced with generous contribution from Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Brazil’s Election of Jair Bolsonaro -/- Land Confiscated – April 14, 2019

First, Scholars’ Circle contributor Doug Becker examines the impact of Jair Bolsonaro’s election on Brazil and globally. How does Bolsonaro compare to other populist leaders in Latin America, as well as President Trump? [ dur: 40 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

Then, did predatory developers use the law to confiscate thousands of acres from African-American families? [ dur: 16 mins. ]

This program is produced with contributions from the following volunteers: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Anaïs Amin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Scholars’ Circle – Advance Men and Women of Presidential Campaigns -/- Use of private military by Nation States – February 10, 2019

First, a look behind the presidential campaign events with one of the top advance men. How do Advance people shape what we see in mass media? Steven Jacques, author of Advance Man. [ dur: 19 mins. ]

  • Steven Jacques is author and former Advance team leader for the White House and presidential campaigns. He is the author of Advance Man.

Then, how is the privatization of military activities compromising international conduct in conflict? What does it mean for international law and ethics in conflict? We look at the multi-billion dollar private military industry. Amy Eckert is the author of Outsourcing War: Just War Tradition in the Age of Military Privatization. [ dur: 37mins. ]

This program is produced with contributions from the following volunteers: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Anaïs Amin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.